The US Navy Fighter Weapons School (the "Top Gun" school) at NAS Miramar acquired a total of ten F-5E "'Tiger II's and three F-5Fs for dissimilar air combat training. Because of the F-5's characteristics, which were similar to the MiG-21, was used as agressor aircraft, equipping the FWS and VF-126 at NAS Miramar, plus VF-43 at NAS Oceana. Recent estimates show that the F-5 can be operated at one third of what it costs to operate an F/A-18.